Canine Respiratory Infection Outbreak
Friends and Neighbors,
You may have seen reports of an outbreak of canine respiratory infection. We received an alert from the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association that there was a rash of upper respiratory infections in the South suburbs that may be related to the Oregon upper respiratory outbreak.
What we know
It’s currently undetermined if this is a new virus or a mutation of an existing virus.
Dogs exhibiting symptoms appear to be recovering, although the recovery period may be longer than traditional upper respiratory infections.
Rare cases are developing pneumonia that is largely unresponsive to antibiotics. Some of those dogs may need to be hospitalized.
If a coughing dog is feeling well with normal appetite, energy and body temperature, it’s unlikely that they have a severe case of the virus but still should be monitored.
Signs of upper respiratory infections in canines are coughing, sneezing, runny nose, runny eyes and trouble breathing.
What dog owners can do right now:
Upper respiratory infections (URI) are a risk with any dog-to-dog interaction. As your pet’s guardian, you must decide the level of risk you want to take. The highest risk will be in areas where many dogs can congregate and interact.
If you must board or groom, confirming with the facility that they require current Bordetella and CIV vaccination for their canine clients is an indicator that they do take precautions to try to minimize the transmission of URIs.
Avoid communal food and water bowls.
Ensure your dog is up to date on their Bordetella, Canine Influenza and Parainfluenza vaccinations. If they are not, schedule an appointment as soon as possible and avoid socialization until immunized.
If your dog has developed respiratory illness symptoms, isolate them from other dogs immediately and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian or go to an urgent care/ER as quickly as possible if symptoms are severe. Please inform your veterinary team of their symptoms when scheduling and upon arriving so the appropriate steps can be taken to minimize exposure to other pets in the facility.
For more information and most current updates, refer to the American Veterinary Medical Association - a not-for-profit, science-based journal that advocates for accurate reporting within veterinary medicine. We will continue to share crucial updates with you all as we receive them.
As always, please contact us with any questions you may have. We are always here for you and your pets.
Sincerely,
The BLVD Team